The quest for the Panama Canal

Week 1, 118 miles.

Week 1, 118 miles.

We start at Bacalar Chico and swim past Belize City on the way to Placencia, Belize.

Week 2, 154 mi., 272 mi. Total

Week 2 takes us past Belize’s barrier reef

Week 2 finishes near La Ceiba Honduras

Week 2. Scenes from Roatan Island to the north http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roat%C3%A1n

Week 3, 132 mi., 404 mi. Total

Week 3, halfway through Honduras

Week 3 takes us near Brus Laguna, Honduras

Week 4, 173 mi., 577 mi. Total

Week 4 takes us down the Miskito coast across the Honduras-Nicaragua border near Auastara Nicaragua. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_Coast

This region is populated by the Miskito people http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miskito_people .The region was hit hard by category 5 Hurricane Felix in 2007.

Week 5, 171 mi., 750 mi. Total

Week 5 takes us to Bluefields Nicaragua.

Week 5, Corn Islands to our east

Week 6, 169 mi., 917 mi. Total

Week 6 takes us past the San Juan River into Costa Rica. This was the site of a proposed canal before the Panama Canal was built. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua_Canal

We are now located at Limon, Costa Rica. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lim%C3%B3n

Week 7, 131 mi., 1050 mi. Total

Week 6 takes us close to the town of Bisira in the Ngobe Bugle province of Panama. Below are some scenes of the coastline.

We passed the island of Escudo de Veraguas, home of the critically endangered Pygmy three toed sloth.

We may also spot a hawksbill turtle during our swim.

Week 8, 113 mi., 1163 mi. Total

Week 8 takes us 10 miles from Colon, the entry point to the canal. Visible are all the ships entering and exiting the canal. The river we are approaching is the outfall of Gatun dam.

Week 9, 166 mi., 1329 mi. Total

Week 9 takes us through the Panama Canal! A 35 mile journey from lock to lock.

Below is the Gatun locks with the new locks seen to the right under construction.

Exiting to the Pacific at the Miraflores Locks.

We continue our journey up the coast and reach Chitre, Panama.

Week 10, 164 mi., 1493 mi. Total

Week 10 takes us around the Azuero Peninsula of Panama. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuero_Peninsula

We are very close to the Island of Coiba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_de_Coiba It was once a Penal Colony, but is now a wildlife refuge where the Scarlet Macaw and Howler monkey Thrives. http://www.coibanationalpark.com/

Week 11, 152 mi., 1645 mi. Total

Week 11 takes us around the Burica Peninsula and back into Costa Rica near Las Penas.

Costa Rica is a popular destination for Ecotourism.

Week 12, 156 mi., 1801 mi. Total

Week 12 takes us to Loma, Costa Rica. We have passed the goal of 1650 miles!

We move up the coast of Costa Rica. To our north, the capitol city of San Jose is home to La Sele, the National team. Farther north is Poas Volcano National Park.

Week 13, 123 mi., 1924 mi. Total

Week 13 takes us to or final destination of laya Langosta, Costa Rica.

We are in luck because we wash up along the coast where resorts are abundant. Our resort is the JW Marriott.

‘Till Next Year!!!